Syracuse, NY -- The Syracuse University football team remained on schedule during day 7 of preseason camp Thursday, albeit with a roster seriously depleted by injuries, many of them concussions that are keeping players on the sideline for several days.

From my perspective the head injuries are puzzling. Camp has been high-paced and intense, but not anymore than other camps I have attended over the last two-plus decades. I have heard no ringing collisions suggestive of serious head-banging, nor have I witnessed any blatant helmet-to-helmet strikes. Yet, the number of players lining up to see the trainers with concussive symptoms seems to grow daily. It makes me wonder if there is some kind of equipment issue. At any rate the number of players standing on the sideline in shorts with these symptoms is approaching double figures. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything like it.

Head coach Doug Marrone put the Orange through its paces regardless, even though the depleted second offensive line featured walk-on Jesse Wolf-Gould at center and true freshman center Rob Trudo at left guard. The team worked on situational offense and defense during the scrimmage portions of the workout, and the offense looked much crisper than it had a day earlier when Marrone expressed displeasure with its performance.

Here are some observations:

A day after I blogged that he had been inconsistent in camp so far senior wideout Dorian Graham went out and made three spectacular catches, often running routes that turned defenders around completely in the process. If he can complement such flashes of brilliance with hanging on to the routine passes he can surely be an asset this season.

Sophomore tight end Beckett Wales made a superb fingertip catch of a hard pass in the flat thrown by backup quarterback Charley Loeb. I continue to believe Wales and starter Nick Provo will be a productive one-two punch at TE, with H-back David Stevens pitching in, too.

An inside run by true freshman tailback Adonis Ameen-Moore (5-10, 244) drew responses of “Did the moose cut loose” from the Orange defense.

A great run by senior tailback Antwon Bailey brought high-fives from his teammates and explanations of “It’s the peanut butter and jelly.” AB also made an acrobatic one-handed grab of a Ryan Nassib screen pass and turned it into a long gain.

With safeties Phillip Thomas (jaw) and Shamarko Thomas (concussion) on the sideline SU went with Jeremi Wilkes and Olando Fisher on the first unit. Wilkes jumped a short sideline route run by Stevens but dropped the sure pick-6. Defensive coordinator Scott Shafer ordered five pushups on the spot.

The poise and effectiveness displayed by Nassib are encouraging. He is making all the throws and displaying great command of the offense. Most impressive to me yesterday was a strike he threw to Wales while on the run.

As far as I can tell no threat is being made to starting linebackers Marquis Spruill, Dan Vaughan and Dyshawn Davis by any of the newcomers.

Freshman wideouts Keenan Hale and Kyle Foster look promising. The feeling here is it is no accident that Jarrod West and Adrian Flemming have been outstanding in camp. They see the young talent behind them and have responded.

Sophomore cornerback Keon Lyn made a nice interception before going down with some kind of upper-body injury. I’m worried about this one. Hope I’m wrong.